An apparatus producing a disc-shaped gas volume with a known temperature distribution
Problem statement
Accurate measurement of internal temperature distributions is important in many applications, be it taking the temperature of a feverish patient or measuring the cooling rate of a solidifying iron engine block. In many situations, non-invasive methods of measuring temperatures are preferred to avoid the need to make modifications to the component being tested, such as the addition of compartments for physical recording devices. One non-invasive method of recording temperature is with the use of laser-based diagnostics, which are used due to their minimally invasive nature and their potential for monitoring multiple thermodynamic parameters [1]. However, they are expensive and may cost up to a hundred thousand dollars. Properly calibrating such an expensive and important piece of equipment is critical to ensuring the laser method is producing the expected results, and a precise and fast method of testing is necessary. Our goal is to develop a device that can be used to test the laser method by producing a fixed volume of gas with a known temperature distribution. The laser will be able to pass through the volume and enter a receiver on the other side that will record the changes in deflection and intensity of the laser beam. The changes recorded by the receiver are used to infer the temperatures and show the temperature distribution in the gas. The distribution inferred through the measurements can then be compared to the known distribution within the device. This comparison will allow the laser to be properly calibrated, and prepare it for use in a real-world setting.
Team members
Emma Puskala – leader
Matthew Brown – communicator
Jacob Gottfried – accountant
Mohammed Almuslim – admin
Client
Scott Sanders, UW-Madison